Aelita

Queen of Mars

1924, Silent sci-fi Soviet film set on Mars, directed by Yakov Alexandrovich Protazanov, inspired by a Tolstoy’s novel The Decline of Mars made at the Mezhrabpom-Rus film studio. It was released in 1929 in the United States as Aelita Revolt of the Robots.

It earns it’s place in an architectural lexicon due to it’s fabulous Constructivist vision of Mars created by VKhUTEIN teacher, artist, theatrical and film set designer Isaac Rabinovich and Victor Simov. The impact of the design had a long reach and is considered an influence on Metropolis and Flash Gordon.

The film fell out of favour with the authorities and wasn’t properly seen for decades.